Game apparatus



(No Model.)

.J.JESSUP. GAME APPARATUS.

No. 543,251 Patented July 23, 1895.

J10./.52a2530.3.54a55a Jaqdeaasaafii 2015105 10162a253a3690660 Jo 4035.30'252015105 .NJNIN.

INVENTOH -5 MW M ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH JESSUP, OF WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY.

GAM E. APPARATUS.

PATENT OFFICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,251, dated July 23, 1895.

' Application filed October 19', 1894. seen Nb. 526,386- (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH J ESSUP, of Woodbury, in the county of. Gloucester and State of New Jersey,have inventeda new and Improved Game Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates toimproveinents in game apparatus; and the object of myinvention is to produce a simple, interesting, and amusing game, which is played in simulation of the game of foot-ball, and which, besides serving for amusement, instructs the players as to the rules and regulations'of a regular football game, so that when the people who have played, the game in accordance with my in- .vention are spectators of a regular foot-ball match they are in a posltion to fully appreciate all the good points of the game.

To these ends my invention consists of a game apparatus, the construction and arrangement of which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a diagram of the game-board and shows the manner in which it is ruled or marked. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the movable piece or block which is moved over the game-board; and Fig. 3 is a diagram of four dice used in the game, each die having its six sides represented in order that the marks thereon may be clearly seen.

The game-board 10 may be made in a single piece or maybe made to fold in the middle after the manner of many boards of a similar nature, and the board has at the ends trans- Verse lines 11, representing the goal lines, while at regular intervals across it are other lines 12, marked consecutively from 5 to 50, ranging from the ends of the board to the center, and the lines are made to scale and correspond to the yard-marks of a foot-ball field. At the ends of the board, near the' center, at the points 13, are the goal-posts, from which extend inward-diverging lines 14, these lines extending to the twenty-fiveyard mark and forming an angle'to the goallines of more than ninety and less than one hundred and twenty degrees, the lines let at opposite ends of the board being connected by straight lines 15 and the space between the opposite lines let and 15 is marked or considered Region of goal from field. Within Region ofgoal from field on the twentyyard lines to the space between the goal-post is considered as twenty yards, and from the said twenty-yard line without the said region the distance shall be considered as thirty yards.

In connection with the board a movable piece or block 16 is used, which is of diamond shape and is provided with a transverse center line 17 and with other lines 18 at right angles to the center line and adapted for use in locating the position of the several players. This movable block is, marked on each side of the center line, as shown in the diagra Fig. 2, the abbreviations of the several player being used and arranged according to the usual position of such players,R. E. meaning right end; L. E., left end; R.T.,right' tackle; L. T.,-left tackle; R. G., right guard; L. G., left guard; 0., center; Q. 13., quarter-back; F.'B., full-back; R. H. 13., right half-back, and L. H. B. left halfback. Both the block 16 and the field are made to scale, and the distance from the center to quarter-back and to each guard is one yard; from guard to tackle, one yard; tackle to end, two yards; tackle to half-back, three yards; quarter-back to full-back, six yards.

Four dice are used in playing the game, die N0. 1 being marked on its six sides, respectively, with the 1ettersR. E, meaning right end; R. T., right tackle; R. G., right guard; L. E., left end; L. T., left tackle, and L. G, left guard. Die No. 2 is marked on its successive sides as follows: 0., mean ing center; M. P., mass play; K., kick; F. 1., flying interference; 13., that piece which is to be moved backward, and the last side is left blank, but may be marked in case the rules of the game require it. Die No. 3 has its successive sides marked with the numerals O, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7, while die No. 4 is marked with the numerals O, 10, 20, 30, 4.0, and 50.

In playing the game the player is to begin with the center of the block 16 at the center of the board 10. The block is then moved to such a distance and in such a direction as shall be indicated by the throwing of the dice.

ber of yards, as determined in the manner The following rule's'shall govern,"although of course the'rules may be changed inaccordance with the change of the usual foot-ball rules and regulations. The rules are subdivided as follows: First, motion forward, back- -ward,or sidewise; second, scoring; third,turn.

Motion If 0., M. P,orl3. isindicated on die No. 2 when the dice are thrown the number of yards for the block to be advanced (or in case Bis turned to be retreated) is taken from die No. 3. If K. or fF.I. is thrown the number of yards is taken from die N0. 4:.

Motion, sidewise: If C.be thrown the block moves directly forward. K, f F. 1., 0113. is thrown the center'of the block 16 is moved sidewise until itis over the line which runs throughthe position indicated by die No.1, and then'advances thenumabove mentioned. When this sidewise motion carries the center of the block to or over the side line the block is to be moved into the field from the point of crossing at right anglesto to be counted as a touchdown.

'the side lines any distance not exceeding one-' half the distance across the field. I

a. Scoring a Touchdown: This is scored when the center of the block crossesthe goalline, but merely reaching the gaol-lineis not counted four points.

b.'Go'al: When a touchdowndsscored the side making it is entitled to take the piece out' to the twenty-yard line on a line through the point where the goa1-line is crossed and to a throw of die No. 4. If the block, when moved out tothe twenty-yard line withinthe bound-2 aries of Region of goal from 'field,'the number must equal or exceed 20,'and'if on the twenty-yard line outside the said limits, the number must equal or 'eXceedBO and'a' goal is then scored. This counts two points.

a. Goal from field: If when the block is within the space marked Region of goal from field and between the center line and opponents goal, K. should be thrown, to-'; getherwith a sufficient number on die No. l? to carry the center of theblock 16 over the goal-line, a goal from the field is scored. This counts five points,'but if theblockbe outside" said region and K. is thrown as above,

no-score is allowed; but the case is dealt with as will be describedbelow.

d. Safety touchdown: This occurs when the backward motion caused by'throwing of l3. results in carrying the block past the goal-line of theside throwingit. This'scores two points for the opponents.

0.. Turn: In beginning the game the firstv turn is to go to the side, which using both;

dice, throws the larger number.

1). Change ofturn: First. If aside fails to make five yards in three successive throws of the dice the turn goes to the otherside, or if a side is forced back less than twenty yards in three successive throws of the dicetheturn.

goes-to the other side. If aside is forced back twenty yards or more in three'successive This is to'be stops outside the twenty-five yard'line, and

throws it is entitled to another series of three throws. The number of yards that a side is advanced or forced back in a series is to be the difference between the total number ad-. vanced and the total number forced back in that series; but if the side playing makes five yards in three successive throws it is entitled to three more throws, and so on, in series of throws of three each, until in a series it fails to make five yards or until it scores, when, after trying for goal, the turn passes to the other side as per 3 below. 7

Second. W-h-enK.isthrown and theblock has been moved up to the position indicated by die No. 4, the turn passes to the other side on the spot reached, and this occurs even if K. 90. be thrown. Third. When a side has scored' by a touchdown and goal or by atouchdown and failed at goal, or by a goal'from'field, the turn pass es to the other side at the center of the field.

Fourth. If a side fails to score by trial atgoal from field, when within the Region of goal from field, or being'outside said region crosses the opponents goal-line'by throwing K., the said opponent is entitled to move the block out to his twent'y-five-yard line if within it, or from the spot reached by the first player in a-try'at goal from field if he then'throw 'die No. 4. When the'blockhas this throw the turn goes again to the firstnamed side.

Fifth. When a side has been forced by throwing B. to make a safety, thereby scoring two points for its opponent, it is entitled to bring-the block outto its twenty-five- +yard-line, and throw die No. 4,'as above, after which'the turn passes to'the other'side.

Sixth. If'the blank or dieon No. 2 is thrown no movement of the block takesplace; but the player is-entitled to another throw, as the blo'ckdoes not count in the 'series'of three throws.

It will-of course be understood that these rules may be changed without affecting the iprinciple'of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure-by Letters *Patent 1. A game apparatus, comprising'a game board marked off in'imitation of a football field, and a movable block adapted for use on the'board and'having the position of opposingteams indicated'thereon, substantially as described. I t

2. A game apparatus, comprising a game board, marked off in simulation of a football field, a movable block for use on the board and having the position of the opposing teams indicated thereomand a series of dies marked to indicate different players, character of play and distances on the field,*substantially as described.

3. In a :game apparatus of the kind described, the game board having transverse been moved up to the-position indicated by 7 regularly spaced yard lines thereon and longitudinal lines to mark a space indicating Region of goal from field, substantially as described.

ro tially as described.

- 5. In a'garne apparatus of the kind de-- scribed, the series ofdice marked respectively to indicate positions on the field, the character of plays to be made and numerals t0 indidescribed.

-JOSEPH JESSUP.

- Witnesses: v

J 0s. J. SUMMERILL, J OHN S. JEssUr.

cate distances on the field, substantially as r 

